None better than St. Bernard's Pierce

St. Bernard's head coach Mark Pierce has been named the 2013 Northeast Sectional Coach of the Year. Pierce has won a half dozen Central Mass. Division 2 titles in his 18 years at the helm of the Bernardians, including the 2012-13 championship. SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE / BRETT CRAWFORD

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It's never about individual accolades, it's always about the team.

And even though St. Bernard's varsity boys' basketball head coach Mark Pierce was recently tabbed the 2013 Northeast Sectional Coach of the Year, the highly-successful coach made sure to share the award with his players and coaching staff.

"I was shocked when I found out. It's kind of humbling," said Pierce about the Northeast award which includes the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont. "I'm honored to be in the same company as so many great coaches. There are a lot of great coaches out there that don't even get recognized.

"I look at this as a team award. You have to have people who work with you that believe in you.

St. Bernard's head coach Mark Pierce hugs his son, Andrew Pierce, as player Trent Hunt celebrates after the Bernardians won the Central Mass. Division 2 championship in 2012 at Fitchburg State University. Pierce was recently named the 2013 Northeast Sectional Coach of the Year. SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE / BRETT CRAWFORD

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We are all on the same page. I don't think this is an individual award. It's really about my whole staff and the players."

Pierce, entering his 18th season at the helm for St. Bernard's, has guided his team to one state title (1998), two additional state finals (1997, 2006) and three other state semifinal appearances (2009, 2012, 2013). Under Pierce, the Bernardians have won an impressive six Central Mass. Division 2 titles, a Central Mass. Conference championship in 2008 and four sportsmanship awards (1997, 2002, 2007, 2010).

"Obviously it's a great accomplishment for him and his teams over the years," St. Bernard's athletic director Jim Beauregard said. "He does a fantastic job on the court, but more importantly is the job he does off the court.

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Year in and year out, Pierce always seems to find the right buttons to push with his teams to produce winning results.

"It doesn't matter who he loses or who's coming back, he always gets his teams to buy into his philosophy," Beauregard said.

According to Beauregard, there's no doubt that Pierce is one of the finest coaches in Central Massachusetts.

"To me, in the basketball world, he's as much of a legend as (Leominster) coach (Emile) Johnson is in the baseball world," he said. "I think it's phenomenal what he's accomplished."

The defending Central Mass. Division 2 champion Bernardians started the season 2-3, but are currently playing outstanding basketball with four straight wins over Burncoat, St. Peter-Marian, Cardinal Spellman and Worcester North and six of their last seven games.

"I'm not surprised this year," Beauregard said.

St. Bernard's is 8-4 overall and 2-2 in the ultra-tough Central Mass. Conference.

"It took some time to jell as a team and now they're playing with some confidence," Pierce.

The goal every year, however, is to be peaking at the right time and win the biggest prize of them all.

"Our goal is to win a state championship," Pierce said. "We got a taste of it before, but it's been a battle ever since. That is our goal, but we know there's a long road ahead."

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